Vol 70, No 7 (2021)

Intestinal microorganisms make up a dynamic ecosystem that has a significant impact on human health, by modulating the risk of certain chronic diseases, including inflammatory bowel diseases, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. The gut microbiota is characterized by an interindividual variability due to genetic and environmental factors; its composition is unique in each individual and tends to remain fairly stable throughout the life. Individual nutrition features play a key role in the modulation of the gut microbiota composition. There are significant differences in the composition of the gut microbiota between the individuals who consume mainly the socalled Western diet high in fat and those who prefer a carbohydrate diet rich in dietary fibers. There are data on the relationship between nutrition and the gut microbiota, on the impact of short-term and long-term changes in the diet on the composition of the gut microbiota, as well as on certain types of diets. The metabolic effects of diet-induced changes in the composition of the gut microbiota are analyzed. It has been shown that a high fiber diet has a beneficial effect on the composition of the gut microbiota, stimulating bacterial diversity and contributing to positive changes in body functions. On the contrary, a diet high in fat and refined carbohydrates causes dysbiosis and stimulates the increase of inflammatory microflora, leading to chronic endotoxemia and systemic inflammation.

Introduction. PrecLinicaL trials have shown that the designed hemostatic formulation is an effective remedy for local bleeding in neurosurgical practice. The pharmacological effect of the formulation is due to an antifibrinolytic component (aminocaproic acid and iron salt) that causes coagulation, and an isotonic component (sodium chloride). Objective: to develop and validate a procedure for quantification of the isotonic component (sodium chloride) of a hemostatic agent. The argentometric titration method was chosen for developing the procedure. Material and methods. The composition of the topical hemostatic formulation as a solution (aminocaproic acid, iron (III) chloride hexahydrate, sodium chloride, and purified water) was used as the investigation object. The titrimetric analysis method was applied. The data were processed with statistical data analysis methods in accordance with General Pharmacopoeia Article 1.1.0013.15 «Statistical processing of experimental results» in the 14th edition of the Russian Federation's State Pharmacopoeia, by using the Microsoft Excel program. Results. The content of sodium chloride was measured in the hemostatic formulation. The suitability of the techniques was assessed applying the validation procedure with the following indicators: linearity, analytical domain, correctness, and reproducibility. The range of the analytical procedure was 0.001 to 0.5 g. The procedure can be reproduced in the laboratory setting with a confidence probability of P=95% and X ±AX=0.10375±0.00011 g. Conclusion. A procedure has been proposed to measure sodium chloride in the hemostatic formulation composition. Validation characteristics have been determined and their compliance with the necessary acceptance criteria has been experimentally confirmed.

Introduction. Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.) is a plant that has long been known in scientific medicine. Chestnut seeds are used as a venotonizing agent in different formulations. In addition to the seeds, buds, bark, leaves, and flowers of horse chestnut can be used in folk medicine. The flowers of horse chestnut are the least studied type of its raw materials. To study the identification characteristics of horse chestnut flowers using classical microscopic analysis methods is relevant, for this is necessary for the development of draft regulatory documentation sections «External signs» and «Microscopy». Objective: to investigate the morphological and anatomical features of horse chestnut flowers. Material and methods. The horse chestnut flowers were harvested in the Voronezh Region during early flowering and underwent air-shade drying. The investigation was conducted according to GPA 1.5.3.0003.15 «Equipment for microscopic and microchemical studies of medicinal plant raw materials and medicinal herbal remedies» in the 14th edition of the Russian Federation's State Pharmacopoeia. Results. The morphological features of horse chestnut flowers harvested in the Voronezh Region were studied using stereomicroscopy. The nature of the luminescence of the tissues of horse chestnut flowers was assessed. Their main anatomical features were identified and visualized on a model of the leaf surface. Conclusion. Studying the morphological and anatomical structure of horse chestnut flowers has identified and visualized the main diagnostic signs that allow determination of the identity of this type of plant raw materials as both an individual medicine and a part of complex multicomponent mixtures.

Introduction. Flavonoids are a group of phenolic compounds having a high structural diversity that determines the breadth of their biological activity. In this connection, it is relevant to vary extraction conditions to obtain extracts from plant raw materials rich in flavonoids. Objective: to comparatively analyze the amount of flavonoids and extractive substances in the Thymus marschallianus and Thymus serpyllum herbs according to the extraction conditions. Material and methods. The investigation object was powdered Thymus marschallianus and Thymus serpyllum herbs. The Thymus marschallianus herb was collected in the vicinity of Saratov (Lysaya Gora (Bald Mountain)) during the flowering phase in June-July 2018, 2019, and 2020. The powered Thymus serpyllum herb was purchased in the pharmacy chain. Extracts from plant materials were prepared in different ways: according to the 14th edition of the Russian Federation's State Pharmacopoeia (14th edition of RFSP) containing the Pharmacopoeia Article (PA) «Thyme herb» (the extractant was 70% ethanol; the assay was recommended by the RFSP), according to the 14th edition of RFSP in the PA «Infusions and decoctions» (the extractant was water); extraction with 95% ethanol; the extracts obtained with 50% ethanol. Results. In the extracts prepared according to the assay given in the 14th Edition of RFSP PA «Thyme herb», the amounts of flavonoids and extractive substances were 0.90-1.44% and 15.9-33.5%, respectively. In the extracts prepared according to the assay in the RFSP PA «Infusions and decoctions», the amount of those was 1.5 and 1.1 times lower, respectively. When extracted with 95% ethanol, the amount of flavonoids and extractive substances was 15 and 6.7 times lower, respectively. When extracted with 50% ethanol, the amount of those was 1.5 and 1.2 times lower, respectively. A correlation was shown between the conditions of extraction and the content of flavonoids and extractive substances in the resultant extracts. Conclusion. The highest amounts of flavonoids and extractive substances were obtained in the extracts prepared in accordance with the requirements of the PA «Thyme herb» in the 14th edition of RFSP and the lowest amounts were observed when extracted with 95% ethanol.

Introduction. To date, there are many immunomodulatory drugs; however, each of them has its own disadvantages, for there will be a need to expand the range of existing immunotropic drugs. Objective: to investigate the immunomodulatory activity of phytocombination as a dry extract on humoral immunity. Material and methods. The immunomodulatory activity of the drug was investigated using a model for immunization of animals with sheep red blood cells. The immunomodulatory drugs Immunal (tablets) and Viusid (powder) were used as medicines to be compared. Results. The test drug was found to have a significant immunomodulatory activity and to be highly competitive with the compared medicines. It mainly affected primary immunity, which was due to the higher level of immunoglobulins M. Conclusion. The findings suggest that the test drug has a significant immunomodulatory activity that is as high as the medicines compared.